George W. Johnson

George Washington Johnson (c. October 1846 – January 23, 1914) was a singer and pioneer sound recording artist, the first African American recording star of the phonograph.

Johnson sang as well as whistled, and also was able to give a boisterous laugh in musical pitch. From this he developed the second performance that made him famous,
The laughing song.

Here's a play list that will play
different recordings of the laughing song.
This is such an uplifting song..
I hope it makes you laugh like, ha ha ha..ho ho ho!




Track listing:

The Laughing Coon (1898)
The Laughing Song (1898)
The Laughing Song (1901)
The Laughing Song (1901)
The Laughing Song (1902)
The Whistling Coon (1896)



Lyrics "

THE LAUGHING SONG
(George W. Johnson, 1894)

As I was coming ‘round the corner, I heard some people say,
“Here comes a dandy darky. Here he comes this way.
His heel is like a snowplow and his mouth is like a trap,
And when he opens it gently you will see a fearful gap.”

CHO: Then I laugh, “Ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha.”
I couldn't stop my laughing, “Ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha.
Ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha.”
I couldn't stop my laughing, “Ha ha, ha ha ha ha, ha.”

They said, “His mother was a Princess. His father was a Prince,
And he'd been the apple of their eye if he hadn't been [a] quince.
He[‘ll] be the King of Africa, in the sweet by and bye.”
And when I heard them say it, why, I laughed until I cried. CHO.

An actor came to see me about a week ago.
He said to me, “Come sing a song down at our little show.”
And when he told me about the scenes, so nice and so complete,
I couldn't stop from laughing from my head down to my feet. CHO.

So now, kind friends, just listen to what I'm going to say.
I've tried my best to please you with my simple little lay.
Now, whether you think it's funny or a quiet bit of chaff,
Why, all I'm going to do is just to give this little laugh. CHO.

Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919